"Photorealism. 50 Years of Hyperrealistic Painting" at KUMU

2016 03 18 — 2016 06 12 at Kumu Art Museum
Author Echo Gone Wrong
Don Eddy (1944) Wrecking Yard I. 1971 Acrylic Private collection. © Don Eddy, Institute for Cultural Exchange, Tübingen

Don Eddy (1944) Wrecking Yard I. 1971, acrylic, private collection. © Don Eddy, Institute for Cultural Exchange, Tübingen

The exhibition provides a survey of hyperrealistic painting from the late 1960s to the present day and includes works by the classics of hyperrealism: Richard Estes, Robert Cottingham, Chuck Close, Don Eddy and others.

Hyperrealism was born in the late 1960s on the east and west coasts of the U.S. and spread throughout the world in the 1970s. This art trend is characterised by an interest in the contemporary urban environment, and the connected lifestyles and perception of the world. Hyperrealistic paintings include street views, illuminated ads and display windows, cars and motorcycles, brands and fast food eateries, modern interiors and other elements that characterise the metropolitan living environment.

Hyperrealists use photos as a basis for their work, imitating and amplifying the photographic portrayals. However, their goal is not to depict reality as naturally as possible, but quite the opposite, to achieve the impression of “a more realistic realism”: hyperrealism. Hyperrealistic art demonstrates the extent to which our perception of the world is affected by photographic images in the media, films, advertisements, on the computer screen etc. These images create a kind of parallel reality that sometimes forms the basis for assessing everyday reality.

Photorealism: 50 Years of Hyperrealistic Painting is the largest survey exhibition of the history and present status of hyperrealistic painting that has been compiled in Europe.

On Saturday, 19 March Ben Johnson (1946) will introduce his work at Kumu. A painter who lives in London, Johnson became famous for its panoramic views of the architectural landscapes of contemporary metropolises: Hong Kong, Zürich, Jerusalem, London and Liverpool.

In addition to the international exhibition on hyperrealism, Cold Look: Variations on Hyperrealism in Estonian Art will open in May at Kumu, on the 4th floor of the B-wing.

Exhibition curator: Otto Letze
Coordinators: Anu Allas and Jana Kende
Designer: Tõnis Saadoja
Graphic designer: Külli Kaats
The exhibition was compiled by the Institute for Cultural Exchange (Tübingen).

The exhibition will be open until 12 June.